Placemat with protective bumper and accessory restraint system

ABSTRACT

A placemat designed to provide a padded, sanitary surface off which a child can eat while also providing an accessory restraint system. The placemat consists of a cleanable mat with a bumper, frictional backing and loops used to attach accessories, all of which attaches to a horizontal surface by way of adjustable arms and pins, screws and grips. The placemat is completely portable and easily attaches to tables of varying thicknesses and shapes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to placemats, particularly for use by childrenwhen dining, specifically adding new functionality.

2. Description of Prior Art

When children are seated in chairs at restaurants, they are often seatedat a level lower than desired and they often lean over the chair intothe hard, sharp edge of the table. In the past, parents or guardianswere required to diligently observe the child to ensure against injuryon a hard table edge or surface, greatly reducing an opportunity ofenjoying the meal, social atmosphere and dining companions. Prior art,U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,162 to Santa Cruz et al (2000), attempted to solvethis problem by providing a bumper of sorts, but the prior art allowedthe removal of the bumper padding, allowing the opportunity for thepadding to be loosened, removed or lost, eliminating the bumpercapability.

Because of the multitudes of table types and thicknesses, a means ofattachment to the table must accommodate varying thicknesses. Based uponprior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,162 to Santa Cruz et al (2000)description, figures, preferred materials, and proposed embodiments, onecan observe that the proposed J-shaped “inserts” adversely limit thethickness of the table that the prior art can accommodate.

Because children may resist the use or desire to remove the placematsystem, it is desirable to create a highly frictional relationshipbetween the placemat and the table. Though prior art, U.S. Pat. No.6,116,162 to Santa Cruz et al (2000) cover material of choice, vinyl,provides some friction against movement, it is neither addressed norsuggested to be designed specifically to overcome such an issue.

Understanding that a caregiver in charge of a child most often hasnumerous toys and supplies to transport, it is desirable to minimize theopportunity to lose parts of an apparatus. The “slidably . . .remove[able]” inserts in prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,162 to SantaCruz et al (2000), are able to be lost or broken when not inserted intheir the respective slots. The loss or breakage of these key apparatuswould render the prior art placemat unusable.

As mentioned above, for the sake of feeding and entertaining children,many toys, books and feeding accessories are transported. Often, when achild is given an object, it is played with then deposited on the floor.No prior art has addressed the issue of restraining the accessories of achild, keeping them suspended or removed from undesirable surfaces.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this placemat is to provide an accessory restraint systemthat is adjustable but securely fastenable, and provides a sanitarysurface as well as an edge bumper.

Objects and Advantages

Several objects and advantages of this placemat are:

-   -   (a) to provide means of attaching a plurality of links (prior        art) or other tether system, of any suitable material or design,        to the invention and subsequently removeably attaching any        children's accessories;    -   (b) to provide fasteners, able to: attach to but avoid        structural or decorative elements of the furnishing, adapt to        uneven surfaces, and accommodate a plurality of furnishing        thicknesses;    -   (c) to provide a plurality of gripping surfaces of        traction-providing material, able to resist the horizontal pull        of the user;    -   (d) while having moveable parts, to be designed to remain        assembled at all times, eliminating the opportunity to lose        parts;    -   (e) to, while remaining as one object, be collapsible for easy        transport and storage;    -   (f) to provide in combination a protective bumper and placemat        that is reusable, water-resistant, made from non-toxic materials        and is able to be cleaned;    -   (g) to provide a bumper, placemat and restraint system that is        removeably attachable to substantially any suitable table of        choice, including various shaped tables, either geometric or        amorphous in shape;    -   (h) to provide, in combination, a protective bumper, placemat        and accessory restraint system wherein the cover member is        substantially made from any suitable material of choice, such as        vinyl or the like, which is washable, non-toxic,        water-resistant, etc.;    -   (i) to provide a bumper that includes any suitable cushioning of        choice therein, such as any typical padding that is non-toxic        and washable, or the like;    -   (j) to provide a means to adjustably, both horizontally and        vertically, attach and removeably affix the placemat to the        table;    -   (k) to provide substantial protection for the table;    -   (l) to provide substantially a sanitary eating surface;    -   (m) to alleviate any hard or sharp edges or protrusions of the        existing table that may injure the user;    -   (n) to be of sufficient size to cover substantially at least a        portion of the table within arms reach of a child when seated at        the table;    -   (o) to provide a user-friendly, reliably constructed, placemat,        easily adapted to most any dining table or eating surface.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the placemat.

FIG. 2A is an overhead view of the placemat when coiled.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view when the placemat is coiled.

FIG. 4A is a view from behind, looking at the inner side of theplacemat.

FIG. 5A is a view from the front, looking at the bumper portion andadjustable knobs.

FIG. 6A is an overhead view of the placemat when attached to a surface.

FIG. 7A is a side view of the accessory restraint system using prior artaccessories.

FIG. 1B is a view from behind, looking at the inner side of the placematand power button.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the accessory restraint system identifying thebattery compartment.

NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   6 (prior art)-   8 (prior art) links-   10 slats-   11 mat-   12 frictional backing-   14 loops-   16 c-shaped base-   18 bumper-   20 pin-   22 pin grommets-   24 knob-   26 screw-   28 grip-   30 arm-   32 bumper covering-   40 (prior art) drink insulator-   42 (prior art) toy-   44 (prior art) suction cup-   46 power button-   48 battery compartment.

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1A THROUGH 7A —PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The referred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.1 through FIG. 7.

The mat 11 is composed of multiple slats 10, permanently attached to thefrictional backing 12, butted so tightly together that when as shown(FIG. 1), the slats 10 create a surface that appears without any openjoints or cracks.

Two loops 14 are located on the left and right sides of the mat surface,functioning in a way so that prior art links 8 may be attached to them.The c-shaped base 16 is made of a thickness such that its thickness plusthe thickness of the frictional backing 12 will equal the same dimensionas the depth of the slats 10 plus the frictional backing 12, creating asmooth transition between parts. The height of the c-shaped base 16 istypically 3 inches. A washable bumper 18 is affixed to the c-shaped base16, of a thickness to shield a child from injury should impact occurbetween the child and the c-shaped base 16.

A pin 20 requiring pressure to disengage it from the provided pingrommets 22 is provided to maintain the desired length of the adjustablearm 30. The pin 20 is depressed thus allowing said arm 30 to movehorizontally. A screw 26 with a frictional grip 28 at the end oppositethe knob 24 is provided at the distal end of the arm 30, to tightenagainst the prior art table 6. By turning the knob 24 in a clockwisemotion, the grip moves vertically upward to sandwich the table betweenthe grip 28 and the frictional backing 12.

Operation—Preferred Embodiment

First, one unrolls the placemat allowing the mat 11 to be fullyextended. The screws 20 are loosened by rotating the knobs 24 in acounter-clockwise direction to increase the distance of the grip 28 tothe frictional padding 12. Once the screws 26 and subsequently, thegrips 28 have been adjusted to accept the depth of the table 6 betweenthem, the c-shaped base 16 is slid horizontally, and pressed firmlyagainst the table 6. The screws 20 are tightened by rotating the knobs24 in a clockwise direction to decrease the distance of the grip 28 fromthe table 6.

If the table 6 has structural or decorative impediments to avoid andrequires arm 30 extension, then pin 20 is depressed while arm 30 isadjusted in the desired direction by either pulling or pushing in ahorizontal direction. The pin 20 will pop into an available grommet 22to retain the desired arm 30 length.

To use the accessory restraint system, one attaches prior art links 8through the loops 14, linking and extending the prior art links 8 thedesired length. The distal end of the length of prior art links 8 isthen attached to the accessory of choice, such as prior art drinkinsulator 40 or prior art toy 42.

To remove the placemat from the table 6, the screws 20 are loosened byrotating the knobs 24 in a counter-clockwise direction to increase thedistance of the grip 28 to the table 6. The c-shaped base 16 is pulledhorizontally from the edge of the table 6. If desired, the bumpercovering 32, protecting the bumper 18, may be wiped with a wet cloth forcleaning.

To store the placemat, beginning at one end of the mat 11 parallel withthe table 6 edge, one rolls the slats 10 of the mat 11 toward thefrictional backing 12, coiling them until they cannot be coiled anyfurther.

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1B-2B—ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT

As an alternate embodiment, the mat 11 may be comprised of a singularsurface, such as vinyl, with an integrated or mechanically incorporatedfrictional backing 12. This mat may also utilize suction cups (priorart) 44 at the end most remote from the user in order to attach it morefirmly to the existing table surface on which it is used.

The grips 28 of this embodiment may also be automated, closing tightlyupon contact with the underside of the table surface, through the use ofa battery operated power button 46.

Operation—Alternate Embodiment

First, one unrolls the placemat allowing the mat 11 to be fullyextended. The c-shaped base 16 is slid horizontally, and pressed firmlyagainst the table 6. Suction cups (prior art) 44 at the remote end ofthe mat would be adhered to the surface. The grips 28 are engaged withthe underside of the table by pressing and holding the power button 46the appropriate direction to decrease the distance of the grip 28 to thefrictional padding 12.

To remove the placemat from the table 6, the grips 28 are loosened bypressing and holding the power button 46 the appropriate direction toincrease the distance of the grip 28 to the table 6. The suction cups(prior art) 44 are disengaged from the surface. The c-shaped base 16 ispulled horizontally from the edge of the table 6. If desired, the bumpercovering 32, protecting the bumper 18, may be wiped with a wet cloth forcleaning.

To store the placemat, beginning at one end of the mat 11 parallel withthe table 6 edge, one rolls the mat 11 toward the frictional backing 12,coiling it until it cannot be coiled any further.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that the use of this placemat withprotective bumper and accessory restraint system is simple and effectivewhen used to protect against accidental bumps and injuries sustainableon the edge of a dining table or eating surface.

Furthermore, the placemat with protective bumper and accessory restraintsystem has additional advantages in that

-   -   it provides a sanitary eating surface;    -   it provides a non-removable padding that cannot be lost, which        would diminish the usefulness;    -   it can accommodate varying thicknesses of surfaces to which it        may be attached;    -   its frictional surface backing and table-depth adjustable grips        overcome the obstacle of children removing it while in use;    -   its working apparatuses cannot be removed, thus avoiding loss        that would render it unusable;    -   it restrains children's accessories, keeping them from        undesirable surfaces.

Although the description above is specific in many details, these arenot to be used to limit the scope of the invention as they have beenprovided to explain further the features of the preferred embodiment.For example, the mat can be composed of other systems, not limited tothe slatted version illustrated in the preferred embodiment drawings;the grips can be comprised of another system achieving the same result,such as a pin and grommet system, etc.

Thus, the scope of this invention should be realized by the attachedclaims and their legal equivalents, rather than solely by the examplesgiven.

1. A combination protective bumper and placemat, wherein the improvementcomprises: a. utilizing prior art plastic toy links or another tetheringsystem and, b. loops affixed to the placemat, providing means torestrain accessories from falls and loss, c. the ability to be reducedin size for ease of transport while remaining one singular unit at alltimes.
 2. A method for attaching said combination protective bumper,placemat, and accessory restraint system to an exposed edge of a table,wherein the improvement comprises: a. utilizing a means of frictionalmaterials and a variable-depth, compression-type gripping system. 3.Said protective bumper is of a washable material, permanently affixed tothe structure.